Dimapur struggles with over 80 daily cases of conjunctivitis

DIMAPUR — The cases of conjunctivitis (eye flu) continue to remain high in Dimapur, as more than 80 cases are reported daily at the District Hospital Dimapur (DHD).

Dr. Asonla Aying Chang, senior specialist at DHD, updated the Eastern Mirror, stating that the infection is not only affecting students, but it is also on the rise among infants and adults, with more severe cases coming in.

The specialist informed that the highest number of cases reported in a single day at the district hospital was 129 cases on August 16.

On Tuesday, 12 swab samples were collected from the infected patients to be sent to ICMR Dibrugarh, Assam, she said.

Chang said that cases of conjunctivitis as well as pharyngoconjunctivitis are a daily affair at the district hospital.

She advised the public to stay alert, maintain good hygiene, avoid touching their eyes with their hands, and follow the advice of the doctors. She also requested the public to promptly consult the doctors if they become infected.

Chang shared that many cases of entire families getting infected, including a two-month-old baby, have been reported.

In the presence of this reporter, a family member also came to collect medicine for his entire family, stating that every member had been infected.

In another case, a whole family of five members, all of whom were infected, arrived at the district hospital for treatment. The father informed that his eldest daughter contracted the eye flu from school on August 18.

A few days later, all the family members, including their six-month-old infant, woke up with infections. He shared that he is experiencing a cold, cough, fever, and sore eyes after getting infected.

It’s worth mentioning that due to the increasing cases of conjunctivitis, the deputy commissioners of Dimapur, Chümoukedima, and Niuland districts issued orders to suspend physical classes in schools for a week from August 21 to the 26th.

Following the order, schools remain closed for lower classes, but in some schools, higher classes are continuing with their sessions.

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